The Pittsburgh Steelers only know how to play one way, and most days that's good enough for a victory. That wasn't the case on Thursday Night Football against the Cleveland Browns.
Steelers wide receiver George Pickens also knows only one way to play. And sometimes that's just a bit too chippy and a lot too focused on getting a win.
On the final play of the game, a Hail Mary attempt, Pickens wasn't anywhere near the ball. He was behind the endzone fighting with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome instead.
The Browns hung on to beat the Steelers in the snow.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 22, 2024
George Pickens got into it with Greg Newsome next to the stands in Cleveland as the game ended and was held back by security.
Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit with the call for Amazon Prime Video. 🏈🎙️🌨️ #NFL #TNF pic.twitter.com/A8ej27F9cw
Here are some closer looks that the scuffle, which started during the Hail Mary.
George Pickens fighting Greg Newsome during the Hail Mary LMFAO pic.twitter.com/1QT1sN1w5o
— Clay Fink (@clay_fink) November 22, 2024
Edit: It seems like George Pickens got into it with Greg Newsome after the Hail Mary. Here’s what the broadcast caught. Slowed it down a little bit. pic.twitter.com/XrPmj5nx6f
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) November 22, 2024
If that whole sequence looks familiar, you may have watched a bit of Pickens in college at Georgia. Social media was quick to bring this clip back.
Russell Wilson: “Someone catch this Hail Mary!”
— GhettoGronk (@TheGhettoGronk) November 22, 2024
George Pickens and a DB in the endzone: pic.twitter.com/MXf9fZPHDl
Social media had a few more memes to pull out for that one.
Al Michaels: Wilson throws... and it’s knocked incomplete.
— Akash (@YZR_Fantasy) November 22, 2024
George Pickens: pic.twitter.com/nllJrRkbnK
“AND THE BROWNS WIN THE GAME”
— Ben Houselog (@benlikessport) November 22, 2024
George Pickens and a fan in the stands pic.twitter.com/u49FEEjJPA
George Pickens after the hail Mary pic.twitter.com/I21SZ0Xfp9
— Chris Corr (@Chris_Studios) November 22, 2024
Pickens is a talented wide out, but he's had issues with avoiding drama during his time in Pittsburgh. There always seems to be something with him.
Just a couple weeks ago, there was this:
Russell Wilson: “Someone catch this Hail Mary!”
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) November 22, 2024
George Pickens in the end zone while the play is happening: pic.twitter.com/d7Q0o7pIJp
And before that there was this:
Pickens from the top rope for good measure
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 29, 2024
💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/t0PvYsBT2G
The Steelers needed Pickens to be more playmaker than distraction on Thursday night. He couldn't quite handle it. He came away with four catches for 48 yards.
This Steelers team has taken off with Russell Wilson behind center but Wilson was ultimately outdueled by Jameis Winston in a snowstorm. It didn't help that Myles Garrett was at his best, logging three of the Browns' four tackles on the night.
The Browns added a third win to their record while Pittsburgh added a third loss. Following wins over the Commanders and Ravens, file this Steelers loss away as another headscratcher. Their other two losses came at the hands of the sub-.500 Colts and Cowboys. With another road trip coming next week against the 4-7 Bengals, Mike Tomlin should be on high alert.